Mother Nature, NASCAR to clash at Darlington as Cup series continues
By
Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published May 19, 2020 7:52 PM EDT
NASCAR drivers may have to contend with Mother Nature this week as disruptive weather threatens to postpone races this week, just days after the sport’s highly anticipated return.
More than 6 million sports-hungry people tuned into Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, the first race since March 8 when the 2020 season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not including the Daytona 500, this was the highest-rated NASCAR race since 2017, according to Fox News.
No fans were allowed to attend the race in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and drivers and crew members had to undergo screening when entering the track, wear masks and practice social distancing. Similar precautions will remain in place through at least June 21 before NASCAR will consider allowing fans to return to the track in some capacity.
Driver Clint Bowyer walks to his car for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Picture-perfect weather unfolded for the return of NASCAR, although it was a hot afternoon with temperatures flirting with the 90-degree F mark and even higher AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures. In the cars themselves, drivers endured temperatures as high as 130 F.
As NASCAR shifts gears from an afternoon race over the weekend to night races during this week, the weather conditions will shift too as a much different pattern sets up over the Carolinas.
NASCAR’s Xfinity series was set to return on Tuesday night at Darlington Raceway, the first race for the series since early March, but fans will need to wait a bit longer.
The green flag was set to fly at 6:16 p.m. EDT for Tuesday's race, but persistent rain soaked the track throughout the late afternoon and evening, forcing the race to be postponed. The Xfinity series race is now scheduled for Thursday at 12 p.m. EDT.
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NASCAR will stay at Darlington on Wednesday evening as the Cup series returns for its second race in just four days, but rain could throw a wrench into the packed schedule.
Wednesday’s Cup series race was set to start around 6 p.m. EDT, but the start has been delayed due to rain.
"Even if there is a break in the rain, racers and fans should not get their hopes up," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert. "More showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread over the Darlington area through Wednesday night."
Not only does the rain cause frustration for both the drivers and the fans, but it can also change the racetrack itself.
“When that rain picks up [and washes away] all the rubber, it makes that surface more abrasive and rough on tires because it’s laying down fresh rubber, rather than rubber on rubber. So we can wear through tires a whole lot more quickly,” NASCAR driver Matt Tifft told AccuWeather.
Tire wear is a particular concern for Darlington Raceway, a track known to be tough on tires. If heavy rain does wash the track clean of rubber, it will make the race more challenging for the drivers.
Crews try to dry the track after a rain shower before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
There is some good news for fans and drivers if the midweek races are moved to later in the week due to poor weather.
It will gradually turn drier and warmer heading into late week, although some rain and thunderstorms will linger around on Thursday. Any rain that does pop up would likely be short-lived, only causing temporary disruptions rather than a complete washout.
Any of the stronger thunderstorms on Thursday can produce damaging winds and flooding downpours.
A shower or thunderstorm can still be around for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but an all-day rain event is not anticipated.
"A cold front will swing through the Carolinas this holiday weekend, and that can cause a shower or thunderstorm to pop up over Charlotte on Sunday, mainly in the afternoon," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
At 600 miles, Sunday’s Cup race is the longest of the year and has been a Memorial Day weekend tradition for NASCAR since the 1970s.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Sports
Mother Nature, NASCAR to clash at Darlington as Cup series continues
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published May 19, 2020 7:52 PM EDT
NASCAR drivers may have to contend with Mother Nature this week as disruptive weather threatens to postpone races this week, just days after the sport’s highly anticipated return.
More than 6 million sports-hungry people tuned into Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, the first race since March 8 when the 2020 season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Not including the Daytona 500, this was the highest-rated NASCAR race since 2017, according to Fox News.
No fans were allowed to attend the race in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and drivers and crew members had to undergo screening when entering the track, wear masks and practice social distancing. Similar precautions will remain in place through at least June 21 before NASCAR will consider allowing fans to return to the track in some capacity.
Driver Clint Bowyer walks to his car for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Picture-perfect weather unfolded for the return of NASCAR, although it was a hot afternoon with temperatures flirting with the 90-degree F mark and even higher AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures. In the cars themselves, drivers endured temperatures as high as 130 F.
As NASCAR shifts gears from an afternoon race over the weekend to night races during this week, the weather conditions will shift too as a much different pattern sets up over the Carolinas.
NASCAR’s Xfinity series was set to return on Tuesday night at Darlington Raceway, the first race for the series since early March, but fans will need to wait a bit longer.
The green flag was set to fly at 6:16 p.m. EDT for Tuesday's race, but persistent rain soaked the track throughout the late afternoon and evening, forcing the race to be postponed. The Xfinity series race is now scheduled for Thursday at 12 p.m. EDT.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
NASCAR will stay at Darlington on Wednesday evening as the Cup series returns for its second race in just four days, but rain could throw a wrench into the packed schedule.
Wednesday’s Cup series race was set to start around 6 p.m. EDT, but the start has been delayed due to rain.
"Even if there is a break in the rain, racers and fans should not get their hopes up," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alan Reppert. "More showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread over the Darlington area through Wednesday night."
Not only does the rain cause frustration for both the drivers and the fans, but it can also change the racetrack itself.
“When that rain picks up [and washes away] all the rubber, it makes that surface more abrasive and rough on tires because it’s laying down fresh rubber, rather than rubber on rubber. So we can wear through tires a whole lot more quickly,” NASCAR driver Matt Tifft told AccuWeather.
Tire wear is a particular concern for Darlington Raceway, a track known to be tough on tires. If heavy rain does wash the track clean of rubber, it will make the race more challenging for the drivers.
Crews try to dry the track after a rain shower before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
There is some good news for fans and drivers if the midweek races are moved to later in the week due to poor weather.
It will gradually turn drier and warmer heading into late week, although some rain and thunderstorms will linger around on Thursday. Any rain that does pop up would likely be short-lived, only causing temporary disruptions rather than a complete washout.
Any of the stronger thunderstorms on Thursday can produce damaging winds and flooding downpours.
A shower or thunderstorm can still be around for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but an all-day rain event is not anticipated.
"A cold front will swing through the Carolinas this holiday weekend, and that can cause a shower or thunderstorm to pop up over Charlotte on Sunday, mainly in the afternoon," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.
At 600 miles, Sunday’s Cup race is the longest of the year and has been a Memorial Day weekend tradition for NASCAR since the 1970s.
Related:
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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